Ordinary Bliss
Many of my days share the same qualities.
I wake up in the morning and undertake some form of exercise prior to driving down the coast to work. My coastal drive never fails to fill me with awe as I crest the first hill and see the panorama of the ocean, glimmering in the sunlight. It’s a blue that’s difficult to describe, and when preceded by the scrub in the sand dunes it never looks the same two days running. Instant calm.
I have a job that is equally straightforward and challenging. I manage administration staff and health care professionals, as well as finance and quality improvement. I have a reasonable work-life balance. I get an acceptable salary for my role. I have job security. I work with lovely, kind, good people.
I drive home in fairly heavy traffic, occasionally taking a less-scenic route if I’m in a hurry. If there’s no rush I tough it out and either sing along to my iPod playlist or learn with my French learning modules, depending on how drained I’m feeling from my work day.
When I arrive home, I call the cat and she meows her welcome. I potter around, watering the patio garden of herbs and small fruit trees that I love so much. The droplets encourage the herbs to share their scents, enveloping me in the green smells of cooking and life. Eventually, the tropical trees will give us fruit, but that day is a few years off yet.
I then walk inside the little red brick house that I call home, take my shoes off at the threshold, and change out of my black work clothes. Once I’m comfy I am truly ready to relax and unwind.
I’ll either cook dinner or be fed, share dinner with my loves, or hang out on my own. Then it’s activities time!
Some of my regular favorite activities include:
Reading — I usually have a biography, a fantasy novel, a non fiction work, and a self help type book on the go at once. I cycle through chapters of each, depending on my mood and how tired I am.
Writing — I write on Medium daily, but also have been working to complete chapters of my novel. I also write in my Desire Map journal every day without fail.
Photography — I take my Photo A Day and post it on Instagram.
Music — I’m always listening to new playlists on YouTube — I love supporting Australian local music (Gyroscope, Birds of Tokyo) as well as vocal powerhouses such as Adele, Sia and Beyoncé. Music helps me break the most sombre of moods, and when I’m feeling particularly drained it’s good for lulling me to sleep.
Tea — I drink about two litres of herbal tea a day. I don’t really drink water, and caffeine makes me sleepy, so herbal tea it is. A lot can be helped with a warm cup of tea, and I find it soothing as I wind down after a long day.
Games — I play various games when I feel the inclination. I love indie strategy games, and two of my favorites are Invisible, Inc. and Sunless Sea.
I shower at a reasonable time (keeping to a schedule is making all the difference to my sleep!) and am tucked into bed about 10.30pm, ready to wind down, browse social media, and head to sleep.
To me, this is the best kind of content — an ordinary bliss.
What does your average day look like?
